About Clinical Studies

The About Clinical Studies section of this site provides a brief overview of clinical research, information for potential clinical study participants, and a glossary of common words used on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Read a brief introduction to clinical research, including types of studies and what happens during a study.
Find information on eligibility to participate in a study,
risks and benefits of study participation,
the informed consent process,
and questions to ask when considering whether to participate in a study.